ducourneau



March 10, 1964 P. J. R. DUCOURNEAU SLICER Filed Jan. 6, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ihverrfor- Pierre J. R. Ducournea u IL-W Afiornegs Marh 10, 1964 P. J. R. DUCOURNEAU 3,124,134

SLICER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 6, 1961 IhVehi' Pierre. J.R.Duc.our-ne.qu

Ari'orneys March 10, 1964 P. J. R. DUCOURNEAU SLICER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 6, 1961 Invenfor Pierre 1R. Du rnea u A++or-neys March 10, 1 4 P. J. R. DUCOURNEAU 3,124,134

SLICER Filed Jan. 6, 1961 4 SheetsSheet 4 Invenfor Pierre. 1R Dugour-neau United States Patent 3,124,184 SLICER Pierre Jean Ren Duebutneau, 8 Rue de la Voute, Paris, France Filed Jan. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 81,068 Claims. (31. 146-402) The present invention relates in general to meat cutting machines or slicers, such as ham slicers, of the type comprising a rotary circular cutter and a reciprocating carriage carrying the piece of meat or ham to be sliced.

More particularly, this invention relates to machines of the type broadly set forth heerinabove wherein the carriage and the cutter as well as supporting plate co-planar with the cutter, form an angle of about 90 to each other and extend at 45 to the horizontal so that the lower face of the piece of meat or ham disposed on the movable carriage be supported by, and slide on, the fixed plate. In these machines the slices cut by the cutter are caused to slide by gravity between the cutter and the fixed supporting plate, and may be gathered under this plate.

It is known that some machines of this type operate automatically and may be pre-adjusted to cut any desired number of slices, whereafter they are stopped automatically. However, the operator must gather the slices cut by the machine. Under these conditions, these machines cannot be considered as being fully automatic, since they require the manual intervention of a person.

It is therefore the essential object of this invention, in a slicer of the type broadly set forth hereinabove, to provide means for automatically seizing the cut slices and distributing them onto an underlying reeciving plate so that the machine may operate without any supervision and without any intervention, its operation being really and completely automatic.

To this end the present invention provides a slicer comprising a slice-gripping and distributing device adapted to lay the cut slices separately one upon another on a receiving tray. This device consists essentially of a rotary body preferably of frusto-conical configuration which overlies the meat-supporting plate so that one of its sides registers with the passage for discharging the cut slices and that its generatrices extend, at this location, in a direction substantially at right angles to the path which said slices are caused to follow by gravity. Moreover, this device comprises a flap hingedly mounted on its base and responsive to a cam control mechanism adapted successively to urge this flap toward said rotary body for gripping the front or leading end of a cut slice and transferring same, and to move the flap away from said body for releasing the slice above the receiver tray.

In order to afford a clearer understanding of this invention and of the manner in which the same may be carried out in practice, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating diagrammatically by way of example a typical form of embodiment of a machine constructed according to the teachings of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the machine as seen from the side provided with the slice gripping means;

FIGURE 2 is an axial fragmentary section showing on a larger scale the slice gripping device the same being taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view showing the cam controlling the hinged flap of the device;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary section illustrating the means for coupling the shaft for driving this device with the power pulley;

FIGURES 5 to 8 are diagrammatic views of the machine with its gripping means, to illustrate the different 3,l24,l84 Patented Mar. 10, l fid successive positions taken by the main component elements during the operation of the machine.

The machine illustrated comprises a rotary circular cutter I mounted on the case 2 in a plane disposed at 45 to the horizontal, and a supporting plate 3 substantially co-planar with the cutter.

Moreover, this machine includes a carriage 4 also disposed at 45 to the horizontal but opposite to the plate 3 so as to form a right angle therewith. This carriage is reciprocated for example by means of a worm 5 (FIG. 4) formed with two threads, one for controlling the carriage movement in the operative or cutting direction f and the other for controlling the carriage movement in the opposite or return direction, the pitch of the other thread being greater than that of the first thread in order to permit a fast return of the carriage.

According to this invention, the maclnne comprises between its cutter l and a lower tray 2a for receiving the slices, a slice-gripping and distributing device consisting essentially of a substantially frustoconical body 6 rotatably mounted on a shaft 7 carried by the case 2. The shaft 7 is inclined on the one hand to the horizontal and on the other hand to a vertical transverse plane intersecting its base so that the upper portion of the frustoconical body 6 be substantially parallel to the fixed plate 3. By construction, the position of the frustoconical body 6 is such that one of its sides, in this case its left-hand side as seen in FIG. 1, registers with the passage through which the slices are discharged from the cutter l. to the plate 3, the generatrices of this frustoconical body extending at this location in a direction substantially perpendicular to the path followed by the slices under the influence of gravity.

The frustoconical body 6which may advantageously consist of two connected shells and be closed by a cover comprises a central core 5a secured on a sleeve 3b rotatably solid with another sleeve 811 secured in turn to a worm wheel 9 meshing with a worm 1.0, the worm gear being housed within the fixed base ll. of the device. The worm It is carried by a shaft 12 operatively connected (through transmission means to be described presently with reference to FIG. 4) to the shaft 5 carrying the lead screw for reciprocating the carriage of the machine, this screw being driven in turn from the motor contained in the case 2.. The ratio provided by the reducing gear is such that the mean circumferential speed of the body 6 be equal to the velocity of translation of the carriage 4 during its slicecutting stroke. The peripheral surface of the body 6 is advantageously formed with parallel grooves having pref erably rounded edges.

The two sleeves 8a, 8b are rotatably coupled to each other through dog teeth Ida and ltlb formed at their adjacent ends. These two sleeves are mounted concentrically on a fixed tubular shaft comprising two sections 13a, 13b of which the registering ends are also provided with the meshing dog teeth. The tubular section 1311 is rigid with the fixed shaft 7. Thus, the tubular section 8b and sleeve 8b can be removed by sliding along the shaft 7 after loosening the nut 14 threadable on the end of the shaft 7 and by which the frustoconical body is kept in position, this body being obviously removed together with the sleeve 8b as it is fast therewith. A flap 15 extends along the frustoconical body 6 and is hingedly mounted about a pivot pin 15a carried by a collar 16 rigid with a tubular member 117 rotatably mounted about a fixed sleeve 18 mounted in turn on the sleeves 8 and tubes 13, and secured on the base 11. A spring 1% constantly urges the heel 19a of a lug 19 carried by the flap 15 toward a fixed circular cam 20, the contour of this cam comprising projections and bosses 20a, 20b, 29c and Zild (see FIG. 3) for controlling the movements of flap 15 toward or away from the body 6.

The end of the tubular member 17 which is opposite to the base carries a plate 21 rotatably coupled with the core 6a of the frustoconical body through a friction clutch consisting of spring washers 22 and permitting a free sliding movement of the plate 21. Moreover, the core 6a has slidably fitted therein one or more bolts 23 adapted to engage corresponding recesses 24 of plate 21 for rotatably and rigidly interconnecting these two members. The bolts 23 are urged by return springs away from the plate 21 and are responsive to the control action of a cam 25 formed with as many lobes or raised portions 25a. This cam is rotatably mounted about the tube 13a and is rigid with a toothed wheel 26 meshing with another toothed wheel 27 rotatably rigid with a toothed wheel 28 meshing in turn with a last toothed wheel 29 rigid with the cover of body 6.

The shaft 39 carrying the two toothed wheels 27 and 28 is rotatably mounted in a support 31 rigid with the tubular member 13b so that the latter is held against motion. Under these conditions, the rotation of wheel 29 with the body 6 causes the rotation of wheel 28 of fixed position, this last-named wheel thus causing the cam 25 to revolve in the same direction as the body 6 and its core 6a, but the ratios between the different toothed wheels are such that the cam 25 revolves at a lower speed.

FIGURE illustrates the component elements of the gripping device in their inoperative position Under these conditions the frustoconical body revolves regularly in the directi n f and the flap 15 is kept stationary and away from the outer surface of the frustoconical body, due to the engagement of a hollow portion of cam 20 by the heel 15a of lug 19, this heel 19a bearing against the inclined face 26a provided between the lower and upper sections of the cam contour. The plate 21 is operatively connected to the core 6a of the frustoconical body through the friction clutch 22 alone, but the force of this friction clutch is not sufficient to overcome the resistance set up and to carry along the plate 21 and flap 15.

During the cutting of a slice of meat or ham, the free or leading edge of the slice T will then engage by gravity the discharge passage provided between the cutter 1 and plate 3 until it bears on the cone 6 under the previously open flap 15.

Immediately as the leading edge of slice T is inserted between the flap 15 and cone 6, the cam 20 allows the flap 15 to be urged toward the cone 6 so as to move bodily with the cone and grip the slice to carry along same, as shown in FIG. 6. This operation is due to the fact that the bolts 23 engage the raised portions or lobes of cam 25 of which the velocity of rotation is lower than that of cone 6, thereby causing these bolts to be depressed against the resistance of their return springs for engagement in the corresponding recesses 24 of plate 21 so that a fast coupling between the cone 6 and tubular member 17 rigid with the bottom lug of flap 15 is obtained. By virtue of this rigid, slipless coupling, the heel 19a of lug 19 is caused to clear the step Ztla. and slide on the lobe 20b, thus causing the flap 15 to be urged toward the cone (see FIG. 2 illustrating the flap in its slice-gripping position).

In the example illustrated the velocity of rotation of cam 25 is lower than that of cone 6 but if desired it may be higher, provided that it differs therefrom with a properly selected ratio so that the cam lobes engage the bolts 23 and depress same with the proper timing.

The slice T is thus carried along by the cone 6 and flap 15. During this movement the rear end of the slice bears firstly on the cone 6 and then on a deflector member 32 (FIG. 1) adapted to guide its fall upon the relevant end of the receiver tray 2a, in this case the left-hand end in FIG. 1, the front edge of the slice being still gripped between the cone 6 and flap 15, and carried along thereby. The rear end of the slice slides on the receiver tray and when the cone 6 has brought the front edge of the slice above the corresponding end of the tray the flap 15 is suddenly moved away from the cone so that this edge will 4 drop in turn and the complete slice will be laid flat on the tray 2a (see FIG. 8).

The movement of flap 15 away from the cone 6 is controlled at the proper time by the cam 20 presenting a step 20c at the trailing end of lobe 2% which is engaged by the heel 19a of lug 19 solid with the flap (this position being shown in chain dotted lines in FIG. 3), The flap 15 is thus held away from the cone 6 by the spring 1%.

During the sequence of steps described hereinabove, the lobes 25a of cam 25 revolving at a lower speed than cone 6 move away from the bolts 23. Thus, these bolts 23 are released from the plate 21 and the latter is then carried along only by the friction clutch 22. However, this clutch is now suflicient to maintain the driving connection between the cone 6 and flap 15 until the flap lug 19 reengages the lobe 20a of cam 20. During this movement the flap 15 is again moved firstly toward and then away from the cone 6 due to the contour of cam 20. From the time the lug 19 is stopped, the flap is held stationary in the waiting or inoperative position shown in FIG. 5. The cone 6 continues to revolve and meanwhile the carriage completes its to and fro movement, whereafter it commences another positive stroke during which another slice will be cut, until this freshly cut slice is inserted under the flap 15. Then, the flap will be tilted again automatically toward the cone 6, and the above-described cycle is repeated as many times as necessary, according to the preselected number of slices to be cut automatically by the machine.

Each slice carried along by the frustoconical body or cone 6 is received by the underlying tray under the best possible conditions due to the specific position of the body portion receiving the front end of the slices. The provision of transverse grooves on the peripheral surface of the frustoconical body 6 prevents the rear end of each slice from slipping, this rear end resting simply upon the body 6. Moreover, each slice is gripped under the safest conditions because the mean peripheral or circumferential speed of the body 6 equals the linear speed of the positive stroke of carriage 4.

Besides, each slice is deposited on the receiving tray 211 under the best possible conditions. This step is facilitated by the presence of the deflector 32 and also of a fixed tube 33 somewhat spaced above the surface of tray 2a and extending substantially at with respect to the transverse plane of the machine, as shown. In fact, the deflector 32 guides the trailing edge of each slice during its fall, and the tube 33 causes each slice to assume a curved configuration (see FIGS. 7 and 8), the slice ends extending on either side of the tube 33 so that they are prevented from rolling up or folding themselves, Therefore, the slices cut in a run are perfectly piled up. Preferably, hooks or like members 34 carried by a pin 35 are provided under the deflector 32 for the purpose of properly positioning a sheet of paper laid on the tray 2a by the operator of the machine before each slicing operation.

FIG. 4 shows in axial section the mechanical transmission contemplated for transmitting the motion from the shaft 12 of the reducing gear driving the body 6, the shaft 5 driving the carriage 4, to a driving pulley 36 over which a belt 37 driven from the motor of the slicer is passed. This pulley 36 is keyed on a sleeve 38 secured in turn on the end 5a of shaft 5. The pulley 36 is rotatably solid with the sleeve 38 due to the provision of a key 38a thereon.

The inner end of this sleeve 38 carries a toothed wheel 39 meshing with another toothed wheel forming part of a train of three gears 40 of which the last one is keyed on the shaft 12. The outer end of sleeve 38 carries a separate member formed with a flange 41 engaged by a disc 42 held in position by a knob 43 screwed on a threaded extension of the aforesaid end portion 5a of shaft 5. The head of a screw 44 fitting into the end of this extension 5c acts as a stop for retaining the knob 43. The disc 42 carries a pin 4-5 engaging a radially registering groove or recess formed on the outer face of flange 41, this groove or recess being one of a series 46 formed at spaced intervals in the flange 41. Thus, the disc 42 is rotatably solid with the flange 41 and in addition it is keyed on the end portion 5a of shaft 5.

These transmission elements are thus adapted to transmit the motion from the driving pulley to shaft 5 and shaft 12, and also to be disconnected from one another so that the respective positions of the carriage 4 and of the component elements of the gripping device may be adjusted at will. As a matter of fact, the operation of this device cannot be fully satisfactory unless the flap 15 is tilted toward the body 6 just when the front or leading edge of each slice T engages the gap between this flap and the body. Now this depends on the width of the piece of meat or ham placed on the carriage. Therefore, means must be provided to permit the proper adjustment of the respective positions of the component elements as a function of this width.

This adjustment can be made by unscrewing the knob 43 to release the pin 45 from the recess 46 of flange 41 in which it was engaged. Thus, the shaft 5 is disengaged; and by rotating same (by manually operating the disc 42) it is possible for the operator to alter the position of carriage 4 in relation to that of the component elements of the gripping device, adequate reference marks being provided to facilitate this adjustment limited by stops 5b. Upon completion of the desired adjustment, the shaft 5 may be re-connected to the other elements of the transmis sion by causing the pin 45 of disc 42 to re-engage the recess 46 of flange 41 which has thus been brought in axial alignment therewith, whereafter the knob is tightened again.

Preferably, stacked spring washers 47 are provided on either side of the toothed wheel 30 to constitute compression springs adapted to damp out the shocks occuring each time the carriage 4 driven by shaft 5 is caused to reverse its direction of travel.

Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the invention and appended claims.

What I claim as new is:

1. In a meat slicer, a rotating cutter, a reciprocating carriage supporting meat to be sliced by the cutter, a slicereceiving tray, a rotated frusto-conical member disposed in a position to receive each cut slice from the cutter, a pivoted flap disposed over the periphery of the frustoconical member, means for causing said flap to be rotated in company with the frusto-conical member while a meat slice is gripped between the flap and the face of said member and until the said slice is brought to a position above the tray, means for causing the flap to be stationarily maintained until a slice enters between it and the said frusto-conical member and then causing the flap to grip the slice between it and the face of said member and then 6 rotated in company with the said member to bring the slice above the tray, and then moved away from said member to cause the release of the slice.

2. In a meat slicer as provided for in claim 1, and including a raised angular projection arranged across the tray to hold elevated slices draped across it after they leave the frusto-conical member, and preventing the clevation of the edges of said slices.

3. In a meat slicer, a circular rotary cutter, a reciprocating meat carriage for bringing the meat toward and away from the cutter, a receiver tray, a device for gripping and distributing each meat slice when cut by the cutter, said device comprising a rotated, frusto-conical member positioned to receive each slice as it is cut, a hinged flap disposed over the periphery of the frusto-con-ioal member, cam means for urging said flap toward said member to cause a slice of meat to be gripped adjacent to its leading edge between the flap and the sunface of said member, means for rotating the flap along with the member while the slice is so gripped between them, said cam means being effective to cause the flap to be moved away rrom the member at a time to release the meat slice when the slice reaches a position over the receiver tray.

4. In a meat slicer as provided for in claim 3 and including a support, the hinged flap being carried by the support, the cam means being effective to rotatably couple the flap to the frusto-conical member and to control the movements of said flap toward and away from said member, said oarn means being effective to cause the flap to be held stationary in an inoperative position and away from the frusto-conical member during the rotative return of said member from a slice-delivering position to a slice-receiving position.

5. In a meat slicer, a circular rotary cutter, a carriage supporting meat to be sliced, means for reciprocating the carriage toward and away from the cutter, a receiver tray, a rotary, frusto-conical body for gripping and distributing meat slices cut by the cutter, a hinged flap disposed over the periphery of said body, cam means for urging said flap toward the body for causing said flap to grip the leading end of a freshly-cut slice of meat between it and the surface of the body to cause the slice to be carried away from the cutter by the rotative movement of the body, said cam means being effective to move the flap away from the body when the carried slice is located above the receiver tray to thereby cause the deposit of said slice thereon, and an elastic friction clutch for coupling the flap to the body to cause rotation of the flap in company with the body for a part of the revolution of the body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 602,238 Nister Apr. 12, 1898 1,192,013 Stiles July 25, 1916 1,923,854 Van Hoorn Aug. 22, 1933 I 2,013,054 Kallos Sept. 3, 1935 2,186,565 Van Berkel I an. 9, 1940 2,534,172 Klingens Dec. 12, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 244,102 Germany Mar. 1, 1912 707,750 Germany July 2, 1941 

1. IN A MEAT SLICER, A ROTATING CUTTER, A RECIPROCATING CARRIAGE SUPPORTING MEAT TO BE SLICED BY THE CUTTER, A SLICERECEIVING TRAY, A ROTATED FRUSTO-CONICAL MEMBER DISPOSED IN A POSITION TO RECEIVE EACH CUT SLICE FROM THE CUTTER, A PIVOTED FLAP DISPOSED OVER THE PERIPHERY OF THE FRUSTOCONICAL MEMBER, MEANS FOR CAUSING SAID FLAP TO BE ROTATED IN COMPANY WITH THE FRUSTO-CONICAL MEMBER WHILE A MEAT SLICE IS GRIPPED BETWEEN THE FLAP AND THE FACE OF SAID MEMBER AND UNTIL THE SAID SLICE IS BROUGHT TO A POSITION ABOVE THE TRAY, MEANS FOR CAUSING THE FLAP TO BE STATIONARILY MAINTAINED UNTIL A SLICE ENTERS BETWEEN IT AND THE SAID FRUSTO-CONICAL MEMBER AND THEN CAUSING THE FLAP TO GRIP 